Image reproduction apparatus and method for simultaneously displaying multiple moving-image thumbnails

ABSTRACT

An image reproduction method and apparatus are provided for simultaneously displaying multiple moving-image thumbnails. A controller of the image reproduction apparatus generates a moving-image contents list including moving-image thumbnails corresponding to one or more moving-image contents, when a request for displaying the moving-image contents list is input. A multi-image reproducer of the image reproduction apparatus simultaneously reproduces the moving-image thumbnails. The moving-image contents list including the simultaneously reproduced moving-image thumbnails is displayed at a display unit of the image reproduction apparatus.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to a KoreanPatent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office onApr. 3, 2012 and assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0034342, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an image reproductionapparatus and method, and more particularly, to an image reproductionapparatus and method for simultaneously reproducing and displayingrespective moving-image thumbnails included in a moving-image thumbnaillist for image reproduction when the moving-image thumbnail list isdisplayed.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, if an image reproduction request is input, a terminal capableof reproducing image data generates a list of one or more images storedin a memory of the terminal. The image list is displayed on a screen,and an image selected from the image list is reproduced and displayed onthe screen. The terminal receives a list of images stored in an imagestreaming providing server, which provides an image streaming service,from the image streaming providing server, and displays the receivedimage list on the screen.

When displaying the image list, the terminal displays image reproductioninformation, such as, for example, a representative thumbnail imagepresenting a particular scene of a corresponding image, a title of theimage, and a reproduction time of the image, together on the image list.The terminal re-sizes a particular frame of the image into a presetimage size, sets the re-sized frame to a representative thumbnail image,and displays the representative thumbnail image on the image list.

Thereafter, if a selection for reproducing a particular image of theimage list is input, the terminal reproduces and displays the selectedimage on the screen.

As such, when a conventional terminal displays an image list for imagereproduction, image reproduction information, such as, for example, arepresentative thumbnail image, an image title, and an imagereproduction time, is displayed on the image list.

However, as high-resolution video generation and reproduction becomeseasier to achieve on a terminal, and as a storage space of the terminalincreases, the number and volume of moving-image contents that can bestored in the terminal increase. In addition, with the development ofnetwork technologies, the amount of personally created contents alsoincreases.

Since a user may not accurately remember a previously viewed image whendesiring to view the image again, it may be difficult for the user tofind desired moving-image contents using only a title and arepresentative thumbnail image of the moving-image contents.

Moreover, the user may need to reproduce one or more moving-imagecontents several times to find the desired moving-image contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to address at least the aboveproblems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present inventionprovides an image reproduction apparatus and method for simultaneouslyreproducing and displaying respective moving-image thumbnails includedin a moving-image list to allow a user to easily find and select desiredmoving-image contents.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image reproductionapparatus is provided for simultaneously displaying multiplemoving-image thumbnails. The image reproduction apparatus includes amulti-image reproducer for simultaneously reproducing moving-imagethumbnails corresponding to one or more moving-image contents. The imagereproduction apparatus also includes a display unit for displaying thesimultaneously reproduced moving-image thumbnails. The imagereproduction apparatus further includes a controller for generating amoving-image contents list including the moving-image thumbnails when arequest for displaying the moving-image contents list is input,controlling the multi-image reproducer to simultaneously reproduce themoving-image thumbnails, and displaying the moving-image contents listincluding the simultaneously reproduced moving-image thumbnails throughthe display unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an imagereproduction method is provided for simultaneously displaying multiplemoving-image thumbnails in an image reproduction apparatus. A controllerof the image reproduction apparatus generates a moving-image contentslist including moving-image thumbnails corresponding to one or moremoving-image contents, when a request for displaying the moving-imagecontents list is input. A multi-image reproducer of the imagereproduction apparatus simultaneously reproduces the moving-imagethumbnails. The moving-image contents list including the simultaneouslyreproduced moving-image thumbnails is displayed at a display unit of theimage reproduction apparatus.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an article ofmanufacture is provided for simultaneously displaying multiplemoving-image thumbnails including a machine readable medium containingone or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:generating a moving-image contents list including moving-imagethumbnails corresponding to one or more moving-image contents, when arequest for displaying the moving-image contents list is input;simultaneously reproducing the moving-image thumbnails; and displayingthe moving-image contents list including the simultaneously reproducedmoving-image thumbnails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image reproduction apparatus,according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of reproducing an image byusing a moving-image contents list including moving-image thumbnails,according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of reproducing an image byusing a section-based moving-image thumbnail list, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a screen on which representativemoving-image thumbnails are reproduced and displayed in moving-imagecontents list display region, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display screen including amoving-image contents list display region together with an imagereproduction region, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is diagrams illustrating a process of reproducing an image byusing a section-based moving-image thumbnail list, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process of generating a section-basedmoving-image thumbnail, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 8 is diagrams illustrating a process of reproducing and displayingmoving-image thumbnails on a phonebook display region, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar componentsmay be designated by the same or similar reference numerals althoughthey are illustrated in different drawings. Detailed descriptions ofconstructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoidobscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention determine whether representativevideo thumbnails for one or more video contents exist in response to animage reproduction request, and simultaneously reproduces and displaysthe representative video thumbnails corresponding to the one or morevideo contents if the representative video thumbnails exist, thusallowing a user to easily find desired video contents.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image reproduction apparatus,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the image reproduction apparatus includes acontroller 10, an image converter 20, a multi-image reproducer 30, astoring unit 40, an input unit 50, and a display unit 60.

The controller 10 may include a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a ReadOnly Memory (ROM) having a control program for controlling the imagereproduction apparatus, and a Random Access Memory (RAM) used as amemory region for storing a signal or data that is input from outsidethe image reproduction apparatus or an operation that is performed inthe image reproduction apparatus. The CPU may include, for example, asingle core, a dual core, a triple core, or a quad core, and the CPU,the ROM, and the RAM may be interconnected through an internal bus.

The controller 10 may control the image converter 20, the multi-imagereproducer 30, the storing unit 40, the input unit 50, and the displayunit 60.

The controller 10 generates a moving-image contents list includingrepresentative moving-image thumbnails corresponding to one or moremoving-image contents stored in the storing unit 40, if a request fordisplaying the moving-image contents list for moving-image contentsreproduction is input through the input unit 50. Thereafter, thecontroller 10 controls the multi-image reproducer 30 to simultaneouslyreproduce the respective moving-image thumbnails, and the controller 10displays the moving-image contents list including the reproduced one ormore representative moving-image thumbnails through the display unit 60.The controller 10 controls the multi-image reproducer 30 tosimultaneously or sequentially reproduce the respective moving-imagethumbnails in an automatic manner without a user's selection orexecution.

In order to generate one or more representative moving-image thumbnailsin advance, the controller 10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, may control the image converter 20 to generate one or morerepresentative moving-image thumbnails by converting one or moremoving-image contents when the image reproduction apparatus is chargedor is in a sleep mode.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the controller 10determines whether there are representative moving-image thumbnailscorresponding to one or more moving-image contents stored in the storingunit 40. A representative moving-image thumbnail is a moving imagegenerated by converting a moving-image section, corresponding to apreset time point in moving-image contents, to a preset size. Themoving-image thumbnail may be a moving image having a size of 320 pixels(width) by 240 pixels (length), and having a rate of 15 frames persecond. The preset size is at least ⅕ or 1/10 smaller than a pixel sizeof original moving-image contents.

If there are representative moving image thumbnails corresponding to oneor more moving-image contents, the controller 10 generates amoving-image contents list including the representative moving-imagethumbnails corresponding to the one or more moving-image contents. Thecontroller 10 controls the multi-image reproducer 30 to simultaneouslyreproduce the respective moving-image thumbnails. The controller 10displays the moving-image contents list, including the reproduced one ormore representative moving-image thumbnails, through the display unit60. The controller 10 may variously configure and display themoving-image contents list, including the one or more representativemoving-image thumbnails, according to the screen size of the displayunit 60 and the size of the representative moving-image thumbnails. Forexample, when displaying the moving-image contents list through thedisplay unit 60, the controller 10 may further display imageinformation, such as, for example, title, reproduction time, producer,creator, and description, of the moving-image contents, as well as therepresentative moving-image thumbnails.

If representative moving-image thumbnails corresponding to the one ormore moving-image contents do not exist, the controller 10 controls theimage converter 20 to generate representative moving-image thumbnailscorresponding to the one or more moving-image contents. The controller10 generates the moving-image contents list including the generated oneor more representative moving-image thumbnails. The controller 10controls the multi-image reproducer 30 to simultaneously reproduce theone or more representative moving-image thumbnails included in thegenerated moving-image contents list. The controller 10 displays themoving-image contents list, including the reproduced one or morerepresentative moving-image thumbnails, through the display unit 60.Specifically, the controller 10 controls the multi-image reproducer 30to simultaneously reproduce the one or more representative moving-imagethumbnails, thus, allowing the user to view the representativemoving-image thumbnails reproduced on the moving-image contents list andfind desired moving-image contents.

Thereafter, if a selection of a representative moving-image thumbnailfor reproducing particular moving-image contents is input through theinput unit 50, the controller 10 reproduces the moving-image contentscorresponding to the selected representative moving-image thumbnail anddisplays the moving-image contents through the display unit 60. Themoving-image contents is a high-definition moving image, and may bemoving image data having a size of 1920 pixels (width) by 1080 pixels(length), and having a rate of 30 frames per second.

If a request for displaying one or more section-based moving-imagethumbnails corresponding to the moving-image contents is input throughthe input unit 50, the controller 10 determines whether there are one ormore section-based moving-image thumbnails.

If there are one or more section-based moving-image thumbnails, thecontroller 10 controls the multi-image reproducer 30 to simultaneouslyreproduce the one or more section-based moving-image thumbnails, and thecontroller 10 displays the reproduced one or more section-basedmoving-image thumbnails through the display unit 60.

If the one or more section-based moving-image thumbnails do not exist,the controller 10 divides moving-image contents into one or moremoving-image sections, according to a preset condition. The controller10 controls the image converter 20 to generate a moving-image thumbnailby converting a portion of each moving-image section. The presetcondition includes feature information, such as, for example, time, facedetection, facial expression detection, voice detection, and scenechange. Thus, the controller 10 may divide the moving-image contentsinto moving-image sections, each of which corresponds to a preset time,or moving-image sections, each beginning with a moving-image framehaving a detected face, facial expression, voice, or scene change. Forexample, the controller 10 may divide the moving-image contents intomoving-image sections corresponding to every 5 minutes and convertmoving image data corresponding to a preset time, for example, 20seconds, in each moving-image section to generate one or moremoving-image thumbnails.

Thereafter, the controller 10 controls the multi-image reproducer 30 tosimultaneously reproduce the one or more section-based moving-imagethumbnails, and displays the reproduced one or more section-basedmoving-image thumbnails through the display unit 60.

If a selection of a particular moving-image thumbnail from thereproduced one or more section-based moving-image thumbnails is inputthrough the input unit 50, the controller 10 reproduces moving-imagecontents of the moving-image section corresponding to the selectedmoving-image thumbnail, and displays the reproduced moving-imagecontents through the display unit 60.

To generate one or more section-based moving-image thumbnails inadvance, the controller 10, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, may control the image converter 20 to generate the one ormore section-based moving-image thumbnails by converting themoving-image contents when the image reproduction apparatus is charged.

The image converter 20 generates moving-image thumbnails having aresolution, a file format, and a compression scheme desired by the userby converting moving-image contents of various resolutions, fileformats, and compression schemes supported in the image reproductionapparatus, according to the performance of the image reproductionapparatus or a screen size of the display unit 60.

In particular, under control of the controller 10, the image converter20 converts moving-image contents into a preset size in advance togenerate representative moving-image thumbnails or one or moresection-based moving-image thumbnails. The image converter 20 parses themoving-image contents to identify an extension type of the moving-imagecontents. The image converter 20 performs decoding by using a codeccorresponding to the identified extension type, and resizes the decodedmoving-image contents to a preset image size. The image converter 20encodes the resized moving-image contents by using a codec suitable fora preset image size, and multiplexes the encoded moving-image contentsto output the moving-image thumbnails. The image converter 20 mayinclude a parser for parsing the extension type of the moving-imagecontents, a decoder for decoding the moving-image contents by using oneor more codecs corresponding to the extension type, a resizer forresizing the size of the decoded moving-image contents, an encoder forencoding the resized moving-image contents by using the codeccorresponding to the resized moving-image contents, and a multiplexerfor multiplexing the encoded moving-image contents. For example, toconvert moving-image contents having a size of 1920 pixels (width) by1080 pixels (length) and a rate of 30 frames per second into amoving-image thumbnail having a size of 320 pixels (width) by 240 pixels(length) and a rate of 15 frames per second, the image converter 20determines an extension type, such as, for example, AVI, MP4, WMV, FLV,and MKV, of the moving-image contents. If the moving-image contents havean extension type of AVI, the image converter 20 decodes themoving-image contents by using a codec such as, for example, MovingPicture Experts Group 4 (MPEG4)4, H.264, H.263, DivX3.11, wmv7.8, orvc1, and resizes the decoded moving-image contents from 1080p to QuarterVideo Graphics Array (QVGA). Thereafter, the image converter 20 encodesthe moving-image contents of QVGA into MPEG4 and multiplexes the encodedmoving-image contents to MP4 to output the moving-image thumbnail. Whenconverting the moving-image contents into a preset size, the imageconverter 20 maintains a preset ratio of width to length according to aresolution. For example, assuming that a ratio of a width to a length is1.778 for moving-image contents having 1920 pixels (width) by 1080pixels (length) and a ratio thereof is 1.333 for moving-image contentshaving 320 pixels (width) by 240 pixels (length), the image converter 20may generate a moving-image thumbnail having 320 pixels (width) by 240pixels (length) by converting the moving-image contents in such a way tomaintain the width-to-length ratio of 1.333. If the moving-imagecontents are converted to generate the moving-image thumbnail smallerthan 240 pixels (length), the image converter 20 may perform conversionin such a way to adjust the width and the length to maintain thewidth-to-length ratio of 1.333 and display the remaining space in black.If the moving-image contents are converted to generate the moving-imagethumbnail larger than 320 pixels by 240 pixels, the image converter 20may cut the size of an image frame into the moving-image thumbnailhaving 320 pixels (width) by 240 pixels (length) to maintain thewidth-to-length ratio of 1.333.

The multi-image reproducer 30 simultaneously reproduces one or morerepresentative moving-image thumbnails or one or more section-basedmoving-image thumbnails, under control of the controller 10.

The storing unit 40 may store input/output signals or data to correspondto operations of the image converter 20, the multi-image reproducer 30,the input unit 50, and the display unit 60, under control of thecontroller 10. The storing unit 40 may store control programs andapplications for control of the image reproduction apparatus or thecontroller 10.

The term “storing unit” includes the storing unit 40, the ROM or RAMincluded in the controller 10, or a memory card (for example, a SecureDigital (SD) card or a memory stick) mounted in the image reproductionapparatus. The storing unit 40 may include a non-volatile memory, avolatile memory, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), or a Solid State Drive (SSD).

The input unit 50 may include a key input means including a plurality ofkeys for key input, a pointing input means for pointing input, such as,for example, a mouse, and a touch input means for touch input. The inputunit 50 forwards an input signal received there through to thecontroller 10.

The display unit 60 may be embodied as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD),and visually provides menus of a portable terminal, input data, functionsetting information, and various other information to the user. Thedisplay unit 60 outputs a booting screen, a standby screen, a displayscreen, a call screen, and other application execution screens of theportable terminal. In particular, the display unit 60 displays one ormore representative moving-image thumbnails, or one or moresection-based moving-image thumbnails reproduced by the multi-imagereproducer 30.

As such, embodiments of the present invention simultaneously reproduceand display representative moving-image thumbnails corresponding to oneor more moving-image contents in response to an image reproductionrequest, allowing the user to view the reproduced moving-imagethumbnails and easily find desired moving-image contents.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of reproducing an image byusing a moving-image contents list including moving-image thumbnails,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step 200, the controller 10 executes an image reproduction functionin response to a request for image reproduction.

In step 201, the controller 10 determines whether there arerepresentative moving-image thumbnails corresponding to one or moremoving-image contents stored in the storing unit 40.

If there are representative moving-image thumbnails corresponding to oneor more moving-image contents, the controller 10 proceeds to step 203.If there are no representative moving-image thumbnails corresponding toone or more moving-image contents, the controller 10 proceeds to step202 to control the image converter 20 to generate representativemoving-image thumbnails corresponding to the one or more moving-imagecontents.

In step 203, the controller 10 controls the multi-image reproducer 30 tosimultaneously reproduce the representative moving-image thumbnailscorresponding to the one or more moving-image contents, and displays thereproduced one or more representative moving-image thumbnails throughthe display unit 60.

In step 204, the controller 10 determines whether a selection of arepresentative moving-image thumbnail for reproducing moving-imagecontents is input. If the selection of a representative moving-imagethumbnail is input, the controller 10 proceeds to step 205. If theselection of a representative moving-image thumbnail is not input, thecontroller 10 continuously repeats step 204 to determine whether theselection of a representative moving-image thumbnail is input.

In step 205, the controller 10 reproduces the moving-image contentscorresponding to the selected representative moving-image thumbnail, anddisplays the reproduced moving-image contents through the display unit60.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of reproducing an image byusing a section-based moving-image thumbnail list, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

In step 300, the controller 10 determines whether a request fordisplaying section-based moving-image thumbnails corresponding to themoving-image contents is input. If the request is input, the controller10 proceeds to step 301. If the request is not input, the controller 10continuously repeats step 300 to determine whether the request fordisplaying section-based moving-image thumbnails corresponding to themoving-image contents is input.

In step 301, the controller 10 determines whether there are one or moresection-based moving-image thumbnails. If there are one or moresection-based moving-image thumbnails, the controller 10 proceeds tostep 303. If there are no section-based moving-image thumbnails, thecontroller 10 proceeds to step 302 to generate one or more section-basedmoving-image thumbnails. Specifically, the controller 10 dividesmoving-image contents into one or more moving-image sections accordingto a preset condition, as previously described, and controls the imageconverter 20 to generate a moving-image thumbnail by converting aportion of each moving-image section.

In step 303, the controller 10 controls the multi-image reproducer 30 tosimultaneously reproduce the one or more section-based moving-imagethumbnails and displays the reproduced one or more section-basedmoving-image thumbnails through the display unit 60.

In step 304, the controller 10 determines whether a selection of amoving-image thumbnail is input. If the selection of a moving-imagethumbnail is input, the controller 10 proceeds to step 305. If theselection of a moving-image thumbnail is not input, the controller 10continuously repeats step 304 to determine whether a selection of amoving-image thumbnail is input.

In step 305, the controller 10 reproduces moving-image contents of amoving-image section corresponding to the selected moving-imagethumbnail, and displays the reproduced moving-image contents through thedisplay unit 60.

Embodiments of the present invention simultaneously reproduce anddisplay representative moving-image thumbnails corresponding to one ormore moving-image contents in response to an image reproduction request,allowing the user to view the reproduced moving-image thumbnails andeasily find desired moving-image contents.

As previously described, the controller 10, according to an embodimentof the present invention, reproduces representative moving-imagethumbnails corresponding to one or more moving-image contents, anddisplays the reproduced representative moving-image thumbnails inresponse to an image reproduction request. The displayed representativemoving-image thumbnails corresponding to the one or more moving-imagecontents may be as shown in FIG. 4 or 5.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a screen on which representativemoving-image thumbnails are reproduced and displayed in moving-imagecontents list display region, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 10 may display image information,such as, for example, title, reproduction time, producer, and creator,of moving-image contents, as well as representative moving-imagethumbnails 400, 401, 402, 403, and 404 corresponding to one or morereproduced moving-image contents.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a screen on which a moving-imagecontents list display region is displayed together with an imagereproduction region, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIG. 5, the controller 10 may display the full region of thedisplay unit 60, which is divided into a first region 500 forreproducing moving-image contents and a second region 510 for displayingrepresentative video thumbnails corresponding to one or moremoving-image contents.

FIG. 6 is diagrams illustrating a process of reproducing an image byusing a section-based moving-image thumbnail list, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

If an image reproduction request is input through the input unit 50, thecontroller 10 simultaneously reproduces and displays representativemoving-image thumbnails corresponding to one or more moving-imagecontents, as shown on a screen 600. If one or more representativemoving-image thumbnails have already been generated, the controller 10may directly display the generated one or more representativemoving-image thumbnails. If one or more representative moving-imagethumbnails have not yet been generated, the controller 10 may generaterepresentative moving-image thumbnails by converting one or moremoving-image contents into a preset size. The controller may thensequentially display the generated representative moving-imagethumbnails on the screen on a first-generated, first-displayed basis.The controller 10, when displaying one or more representativemoving-image thumbnails through the display unit 60, configures anddisplays them as one list. For example, the controller 10 may configureand display a moving-image thumbnail list including one or morerepresentative moving-image thumbnails as shown in the screen 600. Thecontroller 10 may configure and display a moving-image thumbnail list,including image information regarding moving-image contents, as well asone or more representative moving-image thumbnails, as shown in FIG. 4.

If a selection of a representative moving-image thumbnail is inputthrough the input unit 50 to reproduce particular moving-image contents,the controller 10 reproduces and displays moving-image contentscorresponding to the selected representative moving-image thumbnail, asshown on a screen 610.

If a request for displaying one or more section-based moving-imagethumbnails corresponding to the moving-image contents is input throughthe input unit 50, the controller 10 determines whether there are one ormore section-based moving-image thumbnails. If there are one or moresection-based moving-image thumbnails, the controller 10 simultaneouslyreproduces and displays the one or more section-based moving-imagethumbnails on the screen, as shown on a screen 620. The controller 10may configure a moving-image thumbnail list, including one or moresection-based moving-image thumbnails, and display the moving-imagethumbnail list on the screen. If one or more section-based moving-imagethumbnails do not exist, the controller 10 divides moving-image contentsinto one or more moving-image sections according to a preset condition,and generates a video thumbnail by converting a portion of each videosection. The controller 10 simultaneously reproduces and displays theone or more section-based moving-image thumbnails on the screen.

If a selection of a particular moving-image thumbnail from thereproduced one or more section-based moving-image thumbnails is inputthrough the input unit 50, the controller 10 reproduces and displaysmoving-image contents of a moving-image section corresponding to theselected moving-image thumbnail, as shown on a screen 630. For example,if a video thumbnail corresponding to a moving-image section whosereproduction start time is 3(minutes):20(seconds) is selected, thecontroller 10 may start reproduction from a portion of moving-imagecontents corresponding to a reproduction start time of 3:20.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process of generating section-basedmoving-image thumbnails, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

If a request for displaying one or more section-based moving-imagethumbnails is input through the input unit 50, the controller 10,according to an embodiment of the present invention, determines whetherone or more section-based moving-image thumbnails exist. When one ormore section-based moving-image thumbnails do not exist, the controller10 divides moving-image contents into one or more moving-image sectionsaccording to a preset condition, and generates a moving-image thumbnailby converting a portion of each moving-image section. The presetcondition may include feature information such as, for example, time,face detection, motion vector detection, facial expression detection,voice detection, and scene change.

For example, if the moving-image contents are divided into a total offour sections, that is, a first section, a second section, a thirdsection, and a fourth section, according to a preset condition as shownin FIG. 7, the controller 10 generates a first moving-image thumbnail700 corresponding to a first section by converting a portion ofmoving-image contents of the first section, which corresponds to apreset time in a reproduction time of the moving-image contents of thefirst section, into a preset size. In the same manner, the controller 10generates a second moving-image thumbnail 710 corresponding to a secondsection, a third moving-image thumbnail 720 corresponding to a thirdsection, and a fourth moving-image thumbnail 730 corresponding to afourth section.

Thereafter, the controller 10 may generate a moving-image thumbnail listincluding the first moving-image thumbnail 700 corresponding to thefirst section, the second moving-image thumbnail 710 corresponding tothe second section, the third moving-image thumbnail 720 correspondingto the third section, and the fourth moving-image thumbnail 730corresponding to the fourth section and display the moving-imagethumbnail list on the screen.

Thus, the user may immediately search for and view moving-image contentscorresponding to a desired moving-image section.

FIG. 8 shows diagrams illustrating a process of reproducing anddisplaying a moving-image thumbnail on a phonebook, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a function orapplication, such as, for example, a phonebook, for which an imagethumbnail may be displayed, as well as a function for reproducingmoving-image contents.

For example, if the user desires to generate profile information, suchas a phone number, of a particular person on the phonebook, embodimentsof the present invention may provide a function for registering an imagethumbnail or a moving-image thumbnail for the particular person. In thisway, the user may register an image thumbnail or a moving-imagethumbnail by capturing a still image or a moving image for theparticular person or using a previously stored still image or movingimage.

Thereafter, if a request for executing the phonebook is input throughthe input unit 50, as shown in FIG. 8, the controller 10 maysimultaneously reproduce and display moving-image thumbnails 801, 802,and 803 corresponding to phone number items, together with a storedphonebook list, as shown on a screen 800.

If a selection for displaying detailed items, such as, for example, aname, a phone number, a home address, and an e-mail address, of a phonenumber item on the phonebook list is input through the input unit 50,the controller 10 may configure a detailed item screen corresponding tothe selected phone number item and display the detailed item screen, asshown on a screen 810. The controller 10 may reproduce and displaymoving-image contents 811 corresponding to a moving-image thumbnail,which is previously stored corresponding to the phone number item, onthe detailed item screen.

The embodiments of the present invention can be implemented withhardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Sucharbitrary software may be stored, whether or not erasable orre-recordable, in a volatile or non-volatile storage such as a ROM; amemory such as a RAM, a memory chip, a device, or an integrated circuit;and an optically or magnetically recordable and machine (e.g.,computer)-readable storage medium such as a Compact Disc (CD), a DigitalVersatile Disk (DVD), a magnetic disk, or a magnetic tape. The imagereproduction method, according to embodiments of the present invention,may be implemented by a computer or a portable terminal that includes acontroller and a memory. The memory is an example of a machine-readablestorage medium that is suitable for storing a program or programsincluding instructions for implementing embodiments of the presentinvention. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention include aprogram including codes for implementing an apparatus or method claimedin an arbitrary claim and a machine-readable storage medium for storingsuch a program. The program may be electronically transferred through anarbitrary medium, such as a communication signal delivered through wiredor wireless connection, and embodiments of the present inventionproperly include equivalents thereof.

The image reproduction apparatus may receive and store the program froma program providing device connected in a wired or wireless manner. Theprogram providing device may include a memory for storing a programincluding instructions for instructing the image reproduction apparatusto execute a preset image reproduction method, information necessary forthe image reproduction method, a communication unit for performing wiredor wireless communication with the image reproduction apparatus, and acontroller for transmitting a corresponding program to the imagereproduction apparatus at the request of the image reproductionapparatus or automatically.

Embodiments of the present invention simultaneously reproduce anddisplay representative moving-image thumbnails corresponding to one ormore moving-image contents in response to a moving-image reproductionrequest, allowing the user to view the reproduced moving-imagethumbnails and easily search for desired moving-image contents.

Moreover, since section-based moving-image thumbnails corresponding tomoving-image contents are simultaneously reproduced and displayed, theuser may view section-based moving-image thumbnails of particularmoving-image contents and directly move to and view a desiredmoving-image section.

While the present invention has been shown and described with referenceto certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skillin the art that various changes in form and detail may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore,the scope of the present invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, and it should be defined by the scope of the followingclaims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image reproduction apparatus forsimultaneously displaying multiple moving-image thumbnails, the imagereproduction apparatus comprising: a multi-image reproducer forsimultaneously reproducing moving-image thumbnails corresponding to oneor more moving-image contents; a display unit for displaying thesimultaneously reproduced moving-image thumbnails; and a controller forgenerating a moving-image contents list including the moving-imagethumbnails when a request for displaying the moving-image contents listis input, controlling the multi-image reproducer to simultaneouslyreproduce the moving-image thumbnails, and displaying the moving-imagecontents list including the simultaneously reproduced moving-imagethumbnails through the display unit.
 2. The image reproduction apparatusof claim 1, further comprising an image converter for generating themoving-image thumbnails by converting the one or more moving-imagecontents.
 3. The image reproduction apparatus of claim 2, wherein themoving-image thumbnails are generated while the image reproductionapparatus is in one of a charging mode or sleep mode.
 4. The imagereproduction apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more moving-imagecontents are converted into the moving-image thumbnails having aresolution, a file format, and a compression scheme desired by a user.5. The image reproduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of themoving-image thumbnails has a preset size that is smaller than a size ofthe one or more moving-image contents.
 6. The image reproductionapparatus of claim 1, wherein the moving-image contents list furthercomprises image information comprising at least one of a title, areproduction time, a producer, a creator, and a description of the oneor more moving-image contents.
 7. The image reproduction apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the controller controls the multi-image reproducer toreproduce section-based moving-image thumbnails for particularmoving-image contents when a request for displaying the section-basedmoving-image thumbnails is input, and displays the reproducedsection-based moving-image thumbnails through the display unit.
 8. Theimage reproduction apparatus of claim 7, wherein the image converterdivides the particular moving-image contents into moving-image sectionsaccording to a preset condition, and generates a moving-image thumbnailcorresponding to each of the moving-image sections.
 9. The imagereproduction apparatus of claim 8, wherein the preset conditioncomprises at least one of time, motion detection, face detection, facialexpression detection, voice detection, and scene change.
 10. The imagereproduction apparatus of claim 7, wherein, when a selection of one ofthe section-based moving-image thumbnails displayed through the displayunit is input, the controller reproduces and displays moving-imagecontents of a moving-image section corresponding to the selected one ofthe moving-image thumbnails.
 11. An image reproduction method forsimultaneously displaying multiple moving-image thumbnails in an imagereproduction apparatus, the image reproduction method comprising thesteps of: generating, at a controller of the image reproductionapparatus, a moving-image contents list including moving-imagethumbnails corresponding to one or more moving-image contents, when arequest for displaying the moving-image contents list is input;simultaneously reproducing, at a multi-image reproducer of the imagereproduction apparatus, the moving-image thumbnails; and displaying themoving-image contents list including the simultaneously reproducedmoving-image thumbnails, at a display unit of the image reproductionapparatus.
 12. The image reproduction method of claim 11, furthercomprising generating the moving-image thumbnails by converting the oneor more moving-image contents.
 13. The image reproduction method ofclaim 12, wherein the moving-image thumbnails are generated while theimage reproduction apparatus is in one of a charging mode or sleep mode.14. The image reproduction method of claim 12, wherein the one or moremoving-image contents are converted into the moving-image thumbnailshaving a resolution, a file format, and a compression scheme desired bya user.
 15. The image reproduction method of claim 11, wherein each ofthe moving-image thumbnails has a preset size that is smaller than asize of the one or more moving-image contents.
 16. The imagereproduction method of claim 11, wherein the moving-image contents listfurther comprises image information comprising at least one of a title,a reproduction time, a producer, a creator, and a description of the oneor more moving-image contents.
 17. The image reproduction method ofclaim 12, further comprising: reproducing section-based moving-imagethumbnails for particular moving-image contents, when a request fordisplaying the section-based moving-image thumbnails is input; anddisplaying the reproduced section-based moving-image thumbnails throughthe display unit.
 18. The image reproduction method of claim 17, furthercomprising: dividing the particular moving-image contents intomoving-image sections according to a preset condition; and generating amoving-image thumbnail corresponding to each of the moving-imagesections.
 19. The image reproduction method of claim 18, wherein thepreset condition comprises at least one of time, motion detection, facedetection, facial expression detection, voice detection, and scenechange.
 20. The image reproduction method of claim 17, furthercomprising: when a selection of one of the section-based moving-imagethumbnails displayed through the display unit is input, reproducing anddisplaying moving-image contents of a moving-image section correspondingto the one of the selected moving-image thumbnails.